Method amd apparatus fok cleaning



July 13, 1937. M. DORFAN 7 2,087,219

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GASES Filed July 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July '13, 1937. M. l. DORFAN 2,037,219

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GASES.

Filed July 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented July 13, 1937 UNITED-STATES- PATENT OFFICE Morton I.

Blaw-Knox ration of New Jersey Dorian, mam 2a., assignor to Col mn, Blawnox, Pa, a corpo- Applicatlon' July 12, 1935,:8erlal No. 31,000 17 cm (Cl; 183-30) My invention relates generally to the art of cleaning gases and, in particular, to the removal of suspended particles, either solid or liquid, from a stream of gas.

While various methods andnumerous forms of apparatus have been proposed heretofore for the cleaning of gases, all these methods and devices with which I am familiar are objectionable for one reason or another, either their high first cost or their relatively low efficiency of cleaning. I have invented a method and apparatus which represent a considerable improvement on the practice and apparatus of the prior art-so far as I am familiar therewith.

In accordance with my invention, I subject gases to a mechanical cleaning operation and to a scrubbing or washing operation whereby all suspended particles are thoroughly removed from the gas and the latter may then be delivered to any point of use, pure and uncontaminated by any suspended matter. The apparatus of my invention comprises generally a centrifugal separator and means for scrubbing the gas after passing through the separator.

A present preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, although the latter-are purely illustrative and not to be considered as limiting the invention in any wise. In the drawings:

Figure l is a central vertical sectional view taken through a gas-cleaning apparatus in accordance with my invention; V

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line II-IL of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the'line III-III of Figure 1; the line 1-1 of Figure 3' indicates the planeonwhichthe sectional Figure l is taken;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure l;

Figure5 isaviewsimilartollgurelshowing a modified form of the apparatus;

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line VI-'-VI of. Figure 5; and

Figure '7 is a sectional view along the line VII-VII ofFigure 5. I

Referring now in detail to the drawings. the apparatus of my invention which I prefer to employ in the practice of the method thereof, 50

comprises a shell l0 preferably formed of sheet metalof suitable gauge. The shell I0 is preferably circular in cross section for maximum emciency, although other, shapes may be employed. An inlet II for the gas to be-cleaned communicates with'the interior of the shell ll,

tubes entend through the collecting portion of and is preferably disposed tangentially thereof, as shown in Figures 2 through 4.1. The shell. M has a conical or funnel-shaped bottom II.

An uptake 13 is positioned substantially centrally of the shell I 0 and extends above. and below the inlet II. A downwardly directed conical bailie ll extends from the upper edge of the uptake l3 to the wall of the shell Ill. The outer edge of the baille I 4 is recessed or notched as at It for a purpose which will appear presently. 10 The uptake and the baflie are preferably secured together, as by welding, and both may be supported by welding the baflle at intervals to the wall of the shell l0.

A scrubber bowl i6 is seated in the shell I0 5 above the uptake l3 and bailie l4 and is adapted to receive a supply of liquid through a port 11.

The bowl has a drain pipe 18 controlled by a manually operable valve l9, theop'erating handle of the valve extending outwardly of the shell I0, 20

as indicated at 20. Conductor tubes 2| extend through the bowl to for the purpose of providing apassage for the gas to the space above the liquid pool maintained in the bowl.

An apron or'fun'nel 22 is mounted in the shell 25 ll above the bowl IS. The spout of the funnel indicated at 23 extends downwardly through the bowl I and is provided at its lower end with a hood or distributor Zl'of cone shape. Contactor the apron-or tunnel 22 and downwardly below the upper ends of the conductor tubes 2|.

A mist arrestor 26 is disposed in the'shell I0 ,I above the funnel 22. The arrestor may be com posed of any suitable material, for example, a plurality of layers of woven wire or expanded metal mesh, or other material, which will emciently serve'the purpose of separating mist from the gas going therethrough. After traversing the mist arrestor 28, the gas flows through an outlet 40 II, whence it may bedelivered to any pointof use.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 through 4 will now be described. The supply of liquid to the bowl It is regulated with regard to the rate of removal of liquid fromthe bowl, so that the surface level will .approach the lower ends. of the'tubes 25. The gas to be 'eleanedisdeliveredto the shell 10 through the inlet ll. Because of the tangentialgarrangement of the inlet |l, the inflowing gas swirls around the lower portion of the shell l0 and the conical bottom It, with the result that any suspended particles are driven by centrifugal force towardtbe-walloftbeshelloritsbottom. The lowcrportionoftheshellandtheoonicalbot-li tom thus constitute a so-called voitex" or cyclone separator for removing suspended matter from the gas. After swirling around the lower portion of the shell I0 of the bottom l2, the main body of the gas flows upwardly through the uptake 13 and between the bafile l4 and the distributor hood 24. The gas is thus forced to traverse a circuitous path which tends further to remove any matter remaining suspended therein. The gas then flows upwardly through the tubes 2| to the space above the liquid pool maintained in the bowl l6. Because of the pressure on the gas being delivered through the inlet H or the vacuum maintained in the outlet 21, either or both of which may be employed, the gas flows from the space above the bowl l6 through the contractor tubes 25.

This arrangement of contactor tubes in a gascleaning apparatus is described and claimed in a copending application of Donald A. Sillers, Serial No. 587,684, filed January 20, 1932, and which has matured into Pat. No. 2,048,145, July 21, 1936, for Contact apparatus for liquid and gas. As explained in said application, the flow of gas across the surface of the liquid pool and through the tubes 25, causes intimate contact between the liquid and the gas whereby the gas is thoroughly scrubbed and any suspended matter remaining therein removed. The gas flowing upwardly through the tube 25 entrains a certain amount of the liquid in the form of droplets, which precipitate either directly upon the apron or funnel 22, or on the mist arrestor 26 from which the liquid drops onto the funnel. The precipitating drops further tend to sweep from the gas any suspended matter carried thereby.

The liquid collecting inthe funnel 22 is delivered by the spout 23 thereof to the distributor hood 24. The latter is provided with guide vanes 28 which divide the downflowing-liquid and direct several streams thereof toward the recesses or notches IS on the edge of the baflle 14-. The liquid flows through the recesses or notches and spreads out substantially uniformly around the periphery of the bottom portion of the shell l0 and the conical bottom l2. The walls of these parts are thus continually washed by the streams of descending water which pick up and carry away any suspended matter removed by the cyclone separator. The liquid and suspended matter carried thereby collect at the lower end of the bottom l2 and are discharged through the outlet 29. An overflow outlet 30 is also provided so that if the outlet 29 becomes clogged with suspended matter removed from the gas, the liquid will escape at 30 and the bottom l2 can be cleaned by opening a clean-out valve 3!.

In a modified form of apparatus shown in Figures 5 through 7, corresponding elements are indicated by the same reference numerals. This form of the invention differs from that already described in that the distributor hood 24 and the funnel 22 are omitted. Their function is performed by a conical cover 34 through which contactor tubes 35 project. The cover 34 has a depending cylindrical portion 36 extending downwardly to the outer edge of the baffle H. The

edge of the bowl I5 is spaced from the cylindrical portion 36 of the cover 34 to permit gas, after passing through the uptake 13, to flow around the edge of the bowl and over the surface of the liquid contained therein before flowing upward,- ly through the contactor tubes 35.

The droplets of liquid drawn through the tubes 35 by the outflowing gas fall on the cover 34 or collect on the arrestor 25, from which they subsequently fall onto the cover. The droplets received by the cover are directed toward the wall of the shell by reason of the conical shape of the cover and flow downwardly therealong to wash the walls of the shell and the bottom l2. and maintain these parts wet so that they readily pick up particles separated from the gas stream delivered to the cleaning apparatus. The advantage of the construction of Figures 5 through 7 is that fewer parts are required and the overall height of the apparatus is less than that of Figures 1 through 4.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the invention provides an effective method and apparatus for thoroughly cleaning gas and removing therefrom particles of suspended matter. operation into two stages, viz., centrifugal or mechanical, and the hydraulic or scrubbing, is found to be particularly effective since particles that are not removed in one stage are unable to pass the second without removal from the gas. The field of application of the invention is almost unlimited and it may be used not only for cleaning or scrubbing but also for any other applications such as humidifying orair-conditioning systems where it is desired to obtain intimate contact of a gas and a liquid. The method is relatively simple to perform and the apparatus is easy to maintain. After the liquid supply is adjusted, practically no attention is required except occasionally to remove accumulated matter removed from the gas. The simplicity of the structure permits it to be manufactured at relatively low cost.

Although I have illustrated and described herein but one preferred embodiment of the invention and the method of its practice, it will be apparent that-numerous changes in the method and apparatus disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A gas-treating apparatus comprising a shell having a centrifugal separator in'the lower portion thereof, a. bowl above the separator for maintaining a pool of liquid, there being a relatively open space above said pool, an uptake from said separator, a baflle extending from the uptake toward the separator wall, tubes extending through the bottom of the bowl, gas discharge tubes extending almost to the liquid level in said bowl, a funnel for collecting liquid entrained by gas traversing the discharge tubes, and means for distributing the liquid collected by the funnel around said baflle for flow over the separator walls.

2. In a method of treating gas, the steps including subjecting particles entrained therewith to mechanical separation in a restricted zone, causing the gas to flow closely adjacent the surface of a pool of liquid, collecting the liquid thereby entrained with the gas and subsequently precipitated, and delivering the collected liquid to said zone for washing away said particles.

3. In a method of treating gas, the steps in.- cluding discharging a stream of gas into a cylindrlcal space tangentially thereof, causing suddenchanges in the direction of flow of the gas, discharging the gas closely adjacent the surface of a liquid pocl collecting the liquid thereby entrained with the gas and "subsequently precipitated, and delivering the collected liquid to the wall defining said space.

The separation of the cleaning I 4. In a. method of treating gas, the steps including discharging a stream of gas into a cylindrical space tangentially thereof, discharging the gas closely adjacent the surface of a liquid pool, collecting the liquid thereby entrained with the gas and subsequently precipitated, and =de-. livering the collected liquid to the wall defining said'space.

5. Gas cleaning apparatus comprising a shell, a bowl therein for holding liquid, a tube projecting downwardly from above the liquid toa point closely adjacentwthe surface thereof, means for conducting gas from below the bowl to a point above thesurface of the liquid therein, means for-collecting liquid' entrained by the gas as it enters said tube, and means for delivering the collected liquid to the wall of the shell below said bowl.

6. Gas cleaning apparatus comprising a shell,

. a bowl therein for holding liquid, a tube projecting downwardly from above the liquid to a point closely adjacent the surface thereof, a tube ex- 7 tending upwardly through thebowl r6r admitting gas to the space above he liquid, a collecting funnel'above the bowl, t e spout of the funnel extending downwardly through the bowl, and a baiile belowthe bowl effective to deliver liquid from said spout to the wall of the shell.

7. Gas cleaning apparatus comprising'a shell, a bowl therein fortholding liquid, a tube projecting downwardly from above the liquid to a point closely adjacent the surface thereof, a gas inlet below the bowl, gas passages extending upwardly through the bowl,'a collector for entrained liquid above the bowl, and a baflle between the bowl and the inlet for delivering liquid from the collector to the wallof the shell.

8. The apparatus definedby claim 7- characterized by an uptake in said shell extending from below said inlet toward saidbaiile.

9. Gas cleaning apparatus comprising a shell, a bowl therein for holding liquid, a cover over the bowl, a tube projecting through the cover to a point closely adjacent the surface of the liquid in the bowl, a gas inlet below the bowl, and a passage between the bowl and cover admitting gas to the space above theliquid, said cover being shaped to-direct fluid precipitated from ascendshell, a gas ing gases onto the wall of said shell.

10. A gas-treating apparatus comprising a shell,.a gas inlet communicating therewith, means,

for maintaining a liquid pool above the inlet, t there being a rjelativelyopen space above the pool, a conduit for conducting the gas from below the pool to said space, a tube extending downwardly to a point'closely adjacent the level of the pool for conducting the gas from said space after intimate contact with the liquid, and means on which liquid entrained by gas iiowing'threugh the last-mentioned tube descends, said ifieans discharging said liquid onto the wali of the shell. 11. A gas-treating apparatus comprising a inlet communicating therewith, means for maintaining a liquid pool, above the inlet, there being a relatively open space above the pool, a conduit for conducting the gas from below the pool to said space, a tube extending down wardly to a point closely adjacent the level of the pool for conducting the gas fromsaid space after intimate contact with the liquid, means above; said spaceon which liquid entrained by gas flowingthrough the last-mentioned tube descends,

and means on-which liquid 7 flowing through said tube descends, said means liquidonto 17. A gas-treating and means for delivering said liquid from said last-mentioned means to the wall of the shell. 1

12. A gas-treating apparatus comprising a shell, a gas inlet communicating therewith, means for maintaining a liquid pool above the inlet, there being arelatively open space above the pool, a conduit for conducting the gas from below the pool to said space, a tube extending downwardly to ,a point closely adjacent the level of the pool for conducting the gas from said space after intimate contact with the liquid, and means for collecting liquid entrained by the gas from said pool and delivering it to the wall of said shell.

13. ii gas-treating apparatus comprising a shell having a centrifugal separator in the lower portion thereof, a bowl above the separator i'or maintaining a pool of liquid, there being a relatively open space above said pool, means for com ducting gas from theseparator to said space, a

tube projecting closely adjacent the level of the liquid pool whereby gas may flow out of said space, entrained by gas being effective for discharging such the wall of the separator.

14. A gas-treating apparatus comprising a shell having a centrifugal separator in the lower portion thereof, a bowl above the separator for maintaining a pool of liquid, there being a'relatively open space above saidpool, means for conducting gas from the separator to said space, a tube projecting closely adjacent the level of the liquid pool whereby gas may flow out of said space, and means adjacent said tube adapted tereceive liquid entrained by the gas flowing there-' througln-and subsequently precipitated, and to I deliver it to. the wall of said separator.

15. A. gas-treating apparatus comprising a shell having a centrifugal separator in the lower portion thereof, a-bowl above the separator for maintaining a pool of liquid, there being a rela-' tively open space above 'said pool, means for conducting gas from the separator to said space,'and a tube projecting closely adjacent the level of the liquid pool whereby gas may flow out of said space, said conducting means including an uptake 'and a plurality of tubes extending through the bottom of the bowl. 16, Gas-cleaning apparatus comprising a me- ?chanical separator effective to remove some at {least of the particles carried-by the gas, a scrubflows, by the gas traversing thescrubber tosaid'separator, to wash away the particles removed thereby.

apparatus comprising a shell, a gas inlet communicating'therewith, meansfor maintaining a. liquid pool above theinlet, there being a relatively open space above the. pool, a

ber above said separator, through which the gas and means for delivering liquid entrained conduit for. conducting'the gas from below the pool to said space, to a point closely for conducting the gas from said space after,-

' intim ate contact wlththe liquid, means overlying said pool for collecting any liquid entrained with the gas nowing through said last-mentioned tube. and means adapted to receive said liquid from said collecting means and deliver it to wall .of said shell. ff"

a tube extendingdownwardly adjacent the 'level of the pool 

